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Frankfurt auto show: Ford Fiesta gets an even sibling--the ST

It's billed for now as a concept, but we'd bet the farm that the Ford Fiesta ST will make it to into production. And we'd bet the kitchen appliances that it will be sold in North America.

To be rolled out on Tuesday at the Frankfurt motor show, the Fiesta ST is powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-four with direct injection and fully variable timing for both cams. Ford says that, in production trim, the EcoBoost 1.6 could generate up to 180 hp in the Fiesta ST, with a near equal quantity of torque, in pounds feet.

Beyond that, the ST is to the current Fiesta lineup as the looming Focus ST is to more ordinary variants such as the Ford SEL. Its brakes are upgraded to match the extra power. Its suspension is tuned in more sporting fashion, its rims are larger with more aggressive tires, and its electronics are upgraded to help manage torque steer and understeer.

The Fiesta ST is equipped with a six-speed manual transmission, and it's finished with more aggressive body tweaks and flashy jewelry.

Despite the ST's concept label, Ford's presentation--and the finished quality of the car itself--suggest that it's a done deal. Executives say that the current Fiesta, which required a massive investment on Ford's part, has achieved a critical mass of profitability worldwide. That means the company can afford some small volume off-shoots, and it likely will seek to maintain interest in the broader line with new variants.

We'd project a production Fiesta ST for Europe sometime in 2013, after Ford has cleared the launch of the Focus ST (which was also introduced as a concept at Paris in 2010). A Fiesta ST for North America could follow within a year.